Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dlnhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T11:26:15.940Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The role of exogenous plant regulators in the dormancy of onion bulbs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

Summary

Experiments were conducted to study the effect of plant injection with growth regulators on the dormancy of onion bulbs cv. Elba Globe. Application of abscisic acid induced early senescence of the leaves and prolonged the rest period of the bulbs. This effect was partially overcome by subsequent applications of gibberellin, auxin or cytokinin and totally overcome with the application of a mixture of the three hormones. Maleic hydrazide application prolonged the rest period by inhibiting both sprouting and rooting of the bulbs throughout the storage period. This inhibitory effect was not overcome by the subsequent application of auxin, gibberellin, kinetin, or their combinations. Ethephon application increased rooting of bulbs and partially overcame the effect of abscisic acid on dormancy.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Addicott, F. T. & Lyon, J. L. (1969). Physiology of abscisic acid and related substances. Annual Review of Plant Physiology 20, 139–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Biswas, P. K., Hall, O. & Mayberry, B. D. (1967). The effect of maleic hydrazide on caffein, tannin, DNA, and RNA in tea, Camillia sinensis. Horticultural Science 2, 157–8.Google Scholar
Butenks, R. G. & Baskakov, Uy. A. (1961). On the mechanism of the effect of maleic hydrazide in plants. Plant Physiology 7, 323–9.Google Scholar
Greulach, V. A. & Atchinson, E. (1950). Inhibition of growth and cell division in onion roots by maleic hydrazide. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club (and Torreya) 77, 262–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harber, A. H. & White, J. D. (1960). Action of maleic hydrazide on dormancy, cell division and cell expansion. Plant Physiology 35, 495–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Isenberg, F. M. R., Thomas, T. H.Pendergrass, Ann M. & Abdel-Rahman, M. (1973). Hormone and histological differences between normal and maleic hydrazide treated onions stored over winter. 2nd ISHS Symposium ‘Vegetable Storage’ Sept 3–7. Freising-Weihenstephan, Germany. Technical Communications. International Society for Horticultural Science (in the press).Google Scholar
Loomis, W. E. & Evans, M. M. (1929). Experiments in breaking the rest period of corms and bulbs. Proceedings American Society for Horticultural Science 25, 73–9.Google Scholar
McManus, M. A. (1960). Certain mitotic effects of kinetin, gibberellic acid, indoleacetic acid and maleic hydrazide on the roots of Allium cepa. Nature, London 185, 44–5.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pendergrass, A. M. (1969). Influence of maleic hydrazide on the metabolism of onion bulbs (Allium cepa L.) during storage. Ph.D. Thesis, Cornell University.Google Scholar
Taylorson, R. B. & Holm, L. G. (1961). The influence of maleic hydrazide on endogenous systems of dormant and active buds of Rosa rugosa. Proceedings. American Society for Horticultural Science 77, 587–93.Google Scholar
Zuckel, J. W. (1963). A literary summary of maleic hydrazide (1949–1959) and (1957–1963). United States Rubber Company, Naugatuck Chemical Div., Naugatuck, Connecticut.Google Scholar